Aron Taylor-Smith celebrated his first outright podium of the season in the Kwik Fit British Touring Car Championship (BTCC) during a thrilling weekend at Oulton Park on June 22-23.
Under the sun at the scenic Cheshire circuit, Hako- sponsored driver Taylor-Smith delivered an impressive performance in his Evans Halshaw Power Maxed Racing Vauxhall Astra.
Following three top-ten finishes at Thruxton, he entered Oulton Park with high expectations. Qualifying eighth on the grid, the stage was set for a strategic race day in front of a capacity crowd and millions of ITV4 viewers.
In the first race, Taylor-Smith opted for the slower Hard compound tyre, giving him a pace disadvantage. Despite this, he skillfully defended his position and even advanced to seventh place, securing a win among Independent drivers.
Switching to the faster Soft compound tyres for the second race, Taylor-Smith demonstrated remarkable pace and agility. A near-miss at the first corner did not deter him, as he quickly made his way through the pack to challenge the front-runners. Although a clear passing opportunity never arose, he finished fifth, claiming his second Independents win of the season and the tenth overall.
Fortune favoured the driver in the reverse grid draw for the third race, placing him on the front row alongside teammate Mikey Doble. Both drivers made a strong start, fending off challenges from Jake Hill’s BMW. Taylor-Smith held third place, skillfully defending against Tom Ingram’s Hyundai to secure his first overall podium of the season with a third-place finish.
Reflecting on the successful weekend, Taylor-Smith expressed his delight at ending the first half of the season on a high note. “To be back on the podium is great, not just for me, but for the whole team at Evans Halshaw Power Maxed Racing,” he said. He praised the team’s efforts and looked forward to continuing their momentum after the summer break.
The weekend’s results propelled Taylor-Smith to seventh in the Drivers’ standings and gave him a 13-point lead in the Independents Trophy. Evans Halshaw Power Maxed Racing also extended their lead in the Independent Teams’ standings to 55 points.
The BTCC resumes after a one-month hiatus at Croft Circuit on July 27-28, where Taylor-Smith aims to build on his success and achieve even greater heights in the second half of the season.
